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Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Fire DepartmentAwarded by National Fire Protection Association

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philadelphia Fire Department and the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia (VNA) have been awarded scholarships to participate in a training conference dedicated to Remembering When(TM): A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults, developed by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA. The awarded scholarships provide for travel expenses for two participants, Remembering When curriculum materials and all training.

VNA is a leading not-for-profit provider of comprehensive 24-hour in-home and community health care to residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

The conference will be held November 15 -- 17, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. NFPA has selected two-member teams from 32 communities across North America to participate. Teams are comprised of one fire department member partnered with an individual from an agency within the community that serves older adults through home visits, such as visiting nurses associations, home health care agencies, and places of worship.

"Adults 65 years and older are more than twice as likely to be killed in a home fire compared to the population at large, and falls are the leading cause of death from injuries in this group," said Sharon Gamache, NFPA's Director of High-Risk Outreach Programs, "This training offers strategies that participants can bring back to share with their communities to help prevent fires and falls among older adults that live there."

"We are honored to receive this award from NFPA," said Mimi Schaible, RN, MSN, MBA, Senior Vice President for Business Development. "We care for nearly 1,600 patients in the Philadelphia region each day. Their health and safety is of utmost importance to us."

"This partnership with VNA is both welcomed and much needed. The Remembering When program will enhance our senior citizens' level of awareness to fire safety education as well as fall and slip prevention," said Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.

Derrick Sawyer, Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention Division of the Philadelphia Fire Department and Nora Cowell, RN of the VNA will travel to Boston for the workshop. Following the workshop, the Philadelphia Fire Department will conduct a minimum of five group presentations and at least two train-the-trainer sessions for the VNA. The VNA will integrate materials from the Remembering When program into its outreach through home visits.

NFPA's s committed to helping communities reduce fire and fall injuries and deaths among older adults. The Remembering When program has been implemented in communities throughout North American since 1999, reaching thousands of older adults. For more information about Remembering When, visit www.nfpa.org/rememberingwhen.

Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia

The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia is a leading not-for-profit provider of comprehensive 24-hour in-home and community healthcare to residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Since 1886, the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia has provided highly specialized, cost effective services to Southeastern Pennsylvania residents regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia or the services it provides, visit www.vnaphilly.org or call 1-800-VNA-1160.

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA's Web site at www.nfpa.org.

SOURCE Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia